Skid Row Summit Called Likely to Result in Eased Police Policy

As police and the mayor’s staff prepare for a summit today on controversial new methods to clean up Skid Row, sources close to the issue say the city will attempt to ease the LAPD’s hard-line policy slightly, while still backing the thrust of the new strategy of confining transients to specific street corners.

City officials including Mayor Tom Bradley have consistently said the police actions are in keeping with city policies, but privately some of these officials say that some police activities may be too restrictive.

Since mid-January, police have been rousting the homeless from doorways, breaking up sidewalk gatherings and reportedly marching the street people to missions that are already filled.

Matter of Personalities

Some sources say the meeting may well focus on the personalities of the controversy as much as the policies themselves.

At the center of the debate is LAPD Central Division Capt. Jerry Conner, who spearheaded the recent police effort, and Skid Row activist Alice Callaghan, who has led the opposition.

Conner, known among admirers and critics alike as “Cowboy,” is recognized as a tough, strong-willed cop unafraid to make controversial decisions. Callaghan, a veteran street organizer, is dedicated to defending Skid Row as the community of last resort for the poor and routinely takes her case against the police to senior city officials.

“There’s a lot of human dynamics here,” said one city official, adding that “much of this is a personal matter (and) I hope they get to it.”

The meeting is closed to the public and special-interest groups, but is still being closely followed by homeless activists and area merchants who have been actively lobbying participants.

Protests Planned

Some activists have told city officials that they intend to begin a series of sit-ins and other civil disobedience to protest the police crackdown.

At least one City Council member has also joined the dispute. Robin Kramer, an aide to Councilman Richard Alatorre, said the councilman’s office has asked to be informed of the meeting’s outcome.

Kramer said the “behind-closed-doors meeting . . . is probably a good place to start” for a solution to Skid Row’s problems. “We will follow things up if legislative action seems appropriate,” she said.

Area businessmen, who prodded the police into action earlier this year, said they are pleased with the results of the crackdown, but are not convinced that the methods are entirely proper.

Some Are Concerned

Charles Woo, president of the Central City East Assn., said the policy of concentrating the homeless at the shelters may need some fine-tuning. “It sounds logical . . . but I’m not sure it will (continue to) work smoothly.”

Central City East officials and homeless service providers alike said that the city meeting should have included members of the community.